Proof that persecution is the worst thing that Muslims can do to keep the Word of God from reaching those that would believe:

The majority of emails are negative and many are abusive, coming from Muslims who felt that Rahman and other apostates -- including Andaryas himself -- should be severely punished.

But there also are many messages of support, he said.

And then there are emails coming from Afghans wanting to know more about Christianity, asking where they can get a Bible in the Dari or Pashto language, or sharing the news that they had become believers in Jesus Christ.

Among the most stirring messages are those from Afghan Muslims marveling about a faith for which a man was willing to die and wanting to study the Bible further.

"I strongly believe God is using this situation for His glory," Andaryas said. "One man's bold step has shaken the world."

It is much easier to die in the heat of battle or in a savage, lust-driven attack on non-believers than it is to stand trial and risk a slow process of execution (trial, then execution) for one's faith. This is why I have always held the Muslims who are willing to "die for their faith" in deep contempt. They don't know the first thing about what it truly means to die for one's faith in God. Anyone can die in an armed battle, but it is a special breed of believer who is willing to calmly stare death in the face and know that they will be unarmed as they face it.